Casting machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1937 a mm 8 wvumfww M m T 7% \m W Q E v Q N 1% 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [Vaf/rafl Leaffir 94 9 a? ATTOR Nov. 11, 1941. N. LESTER CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ Na7%a/ Les/6P I BY ATTORNE Patented Nov. 11, 1941 UNITED STATE oasmvc mounts, Nathan rater, Cleveland neishtn. out, assignor to The heater Company, Olevelan hio,acorpor aticmof0hio Application November 12, 1937, Serial No. 174,175

8 Claims. (cl. 18-30) The present invention relates to a machine for casting material under pressure into a permanent mold. The construction of the machine embodying the principle of my present invention is particularly suited for the pressure casting of materials popularly known as plastics, i. e., a material which is in a dry, finely divided or powdered state,- and subsequently subjected to pressure casting cylinder andevenly'distributedtherein, wherein the parts of the machine are readily accessible for the purposes of insp ct adjustment, cleaning and replacement; and wherein the casting is automatically removed from between the die blocks with incident safety to the operator.- More particularly outlined, the machine embodying my invention includes an assembly of the material feed, pressure casting cylinder, and injection nozzle or discharge mechanism which is so mounted upon the machine that it can beswung into and out of position with relation to the other parts thereof. In conjunction with this assembly, my invention provides means consisting of a rotatable cup-like member for evenly distributing the material in 'the interior of the pressure casting cylinder and a knock-out and safety device for removing the casting from the machine, both the rotatable cup-like member and the knock-out device being operated by a single actuating mechanism which is in turn dependent upon the'movement of the die plates and thereby rendered automatic. Additional objects and advantages shall become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishmentsof the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the. means hereinafter fully'described and particularly pointed out in the claims. I v

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in: detail certain m apparatus embodying the principle of my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the machine showing the swing assembly of the material feed, pressure, casting and injection nozzle apparatus in open position; Fig. 3-is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view of a portion of Fig.1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view taken upon aplane normal to that of Fig. 3, and substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 5, which is another detailed, sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.:

Now referring more particularly tothe drawings, the casting machine shown therein is mounted upon a base I and has the two vertical upright end members 2 and 3 which are joined by the tie bars 4. A fixed die plate 5 is mounted adjacent the vertical end-member I. A toggle link mechanism 6 which is actuated by the hydraulic cylinder I carries the main movable die plate 8 to which the auxiliary die plate 9 is adjustably attached. The detailed construction and mode of operation of the last mentionedmechanism are to be found more fully set forth in the copending U. S. patent application of William M.

Lester, Serial No. 5,438, filed'Feb. 7, 1935. The

die plates 5 and 9 are adapted to carry blocks. as indicated at Ill and I I.

A pair of vertical bars I! and i3 extendupdie wardly from the vertical end member 3, and

support the hydraulic cylinder. lfin which the .piston l5 and piston rod ii are adapted to reciprocate.

A cross member I! is swingably mounted at one end on the vertical barl3. and has a U- shaped opening I 8 on its other end adapted to engage with the bar [2. -Thebar- I! has a reduced diameter portion which presents azshoulder l2 forthe abutment of the upper surface of the member ll so as to maintain the latter in 40 locked vertical position. A manipulating handle embodying the invention, such disclosed means vention may be used,

' In said annexed drawings:

V II which is adapted to fit into the Tlslot 31 in Fig. l is a sectioned, elevationalviev'vrof the II is provided on the member l'l so that thelatter, together with its attached parts, can be swung 'into and out'of position. The member I] carries as an assembly, thematerial feed hopper 2], the 'measuring slide 21, the distributing cup 22, the pressure casting cylinder 23, the spreader 24, the annular casting piston 25, the injection nozzle body 26, and the heating jackets 21 and II, and the knockout paddle 2'9. 7 I

An extension 30 is mounted on the end of the hydraulic piston rod l6 and has a T-shaped end the upper end of the annular casting piston 25.

A stud '33 is attached to the upper end of the feed slide II and is: adapted to fit into the slot rod 16.

The injection nozzle 35 mounted in the end of opening 49 'of the'hopper 26.

' the interior 01. the distributing cup 22.

in the end of the plate 34 mounted on the pisto the nozzle body 26 extends through the stationary die plate and is adapted to contact with the sprue opening 36 in the die block H.

A locking plate 31 is hingedly mounted upon the end member 3 by means of the removable hinge pins 38' and 39 which fit into lugs, such as indicated at 46. A stud-4l threadably engages through the hinge plate 31 and is adapted to contact with the die blocks I 0 and II when the die plates 6 and 9 start to move toward the die plate 5. 1

As the connecting rod 56 reciprocates, it also operates to rotate the distributing cup 22 and thereby to evenly and uniformly distribute the material to be cast around the interior of the cylinder 23.

e The nozzle body 26 has a taper wailed insert 15,

which 'is' located in registry with the bottom end of the spreader 24. The bottom, outer wall portions of this spreader 24 make atapered flt with nozzle body 26. A jack screw 42 is threadably the bottom surface of the nozzle body 26. The

nozzle body 26, of course, isjattachedto the ing cylinder 23 by means of studs, such as indicated in Fig. 1. Y Y I The rotatable distributing'cup'22 has an opening 45 in its side which communicates with anv opening 46 in the feed slide housing 41. The feed slide 2l in turn has aninclined chamber 46 which is adapted to receive material atthe bottom of the stroke of the feed slide from the discharge On the upper end ofthe stroke of the feed slide 2|, the material passes from the inclined chamber 48 through the opening.46,=-through the opening 45 and thenc mounted in the end member 3 and bears'against*- the walls of the cylinder 23, as indicated at 16. The bottom of the spreader 24 and the top of the insert also make a tapered fit as indicated at 1,1. The insert 15 has a central passage 16 which communicates with the passage 19 in the nozzle body 26 leading .to the nozzle tip 35. By virtue of this last described construction, the spreader 24 is securely mounted in the cylinder 23 and a tight and effective joint is provided between the bottom of the spreader 24 and the insert 15 in the nozzle body 26. Byimaking that part'of, the nozzle body 26 which contacts with the spreader 24 in theform ot a separate insert, the time and expense of otherwise extremely diflicult'machining is eliminated.

From the above description, it will thus be seen that the assembly of the material feed mech- The inner walls of the distributing cup 22 are tapered inwardlyin theirlower portions as indicated at 56 and have a series of inwardly extending vanes 5|. The: inwardly tapering sides 50 of'the distributing cup 22 terminate at their lower ends in the opening 52 adjacent the top of the pressure casting cylinder 23. The lower and v outside portion of the distributing cup 22 is in the 'form of a gear 53 which meshes with the smaller gear 54011 the shaft 55. The shaft '55 in turn hasone end in the form of a sm'all pinion-gear .56rinmesh with the gear rack 51 on the end of the connecting rod 56. 1 V 1 r I The connecting rod 56 is sli'dably mounted within the housing 59. The end portion 66 of 'the" connecting rod 58' is-hingedly connectedthereto, as will be seen inFigs. 1 and 2, and has a U-shaped or hooked end portion 6| which is adapted to make a latching engagement with a cross pin-62 carried in the bracket 63 on the die .wplate 8. Thus, by merely raising the hingedly Jconnected portion 6llof the "connecting rod 58,

the. latter can be quickly disconnected from the die plate 8 when the assembly mounted on the member I1 isswung into open position, as indicated in Fig.-"2.' I j The knock out paddle 29 is attached by means plate 31 and unlatching anism, the pressure casting cylinder, the injection nozzle, and the heating elements can be swung into open position to give access to all of these parts, as well as the die block gate opening, for the purpose of adjustments, replacements, inspection and cleaning, by merely removing one of the pins 33 or 39 from the hinge the hinge portion-66 or the connecting rod 55.

I mechanism herein disclosed,'provided the means 1 Other modes ofapplying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore-particularly point out and-distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a' pressure casting machine, the combination of a supporting frame,separable die plates, a hydraulic pressure cylinder and piston carried by said'frame, a pressure casting assemblymeans comprising a pressure casting cylinder and plunger'therein and material feed and discharge means, means 'forvswingably mount-.

ing said assembly means jon'said supporting .frame, means for detachably connecting said of a clamp bracket 65 tothe exterior portion 66 of the rotatable sleeve 61. The sleeve 61 is ro-:

" tatably mounted in the housing 59 and is locked against longitudinal movement by means of the collar 68; A camtrack 63 i'n the' wall of the sleeve 61 engages with a pin 16 on the connecting rod '58. hu as the connecting rod 58 reciprocates, the pin". and cam, connection between the latter "and the sleeve 61, operates to swing the knock-out paddle 29 back and forth in-the space between the die blocks [0 and II when the latter are in open position. The knock-out pads die 29 serves the dual function of. removing the castingv fromjthe dieblocks Ill and II andalso plunger to said hydraulic piston, and means for detachably holding said assembly means in operative positionon said supporting frame. 2. In a pressurecasting machineflahe combination of separable die plates, a pressure castingcylinder, a rotatable cup-like memberhaving an opening in its side wall for receiving material to be cast and an opening in its bottom in registry with the top of said'cylinder for disltributingsaid materialaround the interior of said cylinder, and means for rotating. said cuplike'member connected to one of said die plates whereby movement of the latter is transmitted to, and operates to rotate the former.

i 1. 3. In a pressure casting: machine, the combination of separable die plates, :1 pressure castcylinder, a rotatable cup-like member having 7 an opening in its sidewall for receiving material to be cast and an opening in its bottom in registry with the top of; said cylinder for'distributing said material around theinterior of said cylinder, a paddle-like member pivotally mounted adjacent said die plates and adapted to swing through the space between said plates when the latter are in open position, and means connected to one of said plates for rotating said cup-like member and for swinging said paddlelike member. l

4. In a pressure casting machine, the combination of separable die plates, a pressure casting cylinder, a rotatable cup-like member having an opening in its side wall for receiving material to be cast and an opening in its bottom in registry with the top of saidcylinder for distributing said material around the interior of said cylinder, a paddle-like member pivotally mounted adjacent said die plates and adapted to swing through the space between said plates when the latter are in open position, a connecting rod connected atone end to one of said die plates, cam means connecting said connecting rod to said paddle-like member, and rack and gear means connecting said connecting rod to said cup-like member.

5. In a pressure casting machine, the combination of a fixed supporting frame, separable,- vertically disposed die plates and a vertically disposed pressure casting means with a horizontal discharge nozzle carried by said frame, said casting means being swingably mounted in a horizontal direction on said frame whereby it is movable into' and out of operative casting position with respect to said die plates.

6. In a pressure casting machine, the combination of a supporting frame, separable, vertically disposed die plates, a hydraulic cylinder and piston, and pressure casting-means with a horizontal discharge nozzle carried by said frame, said casting means and said cylinder and piston being in vertical alignment, the latter being fixedly mounted on said frame, and said casting means being movably mounted on said frame whereby it is movable into and out of operative casting position with respect to said die plates and with respect to said hydraulic cylinder and piston.

7. In a pressure casting machine, the combination of a supporting base, fixed, vertically disposed supporting frame members on said base, a pressure'casting assembly means including a pressure casting cylinder and plunger therein and material feed and discharge means, means for swingably mounting said assembly means in a horizontal direction on said frame members, and means on said base for contacting the bottom of said assembly means when the latter is in operative position.

8. In a pressure casting machine, the combination of a supporting frame, separable, vertically disposed die plates, a hydraulic cylinder and piston, and pressure casting means with a horizontal discharge nozzle carried by said frame, said casting means and said cylinder and piston being in vertical alignment, the latter being fixedly mounted on said frame, said casting means being movably mounted on said frame whereby it is movable into and out of operative casting position with respect to said die plates and with respect to said hydraulic cylinder and piston, and a jack screw on said frame adapted to bear against the bottom of said nozzle when said casting means is in operative position.

NATHAN LESTER. 

